ABSTRACT
Generally, structural elements are considered to be subject to either static or gradual loading. Structures are also subject to sudden loads, i.e. impact and shock loads. Impact loading is coined due to interaction between two objects amongst which one object carries cruising or incipient velocity immediately before impact and is known as “impactor”. While the other object is subject to such impact loading due to collision of impactor with it is known as “target”. Target responds to such loading by undergoing either elastic (recoverable) or elasto-plastic (permanent) deformation. One approach for estimating response of target due to impact load is static approach in which equivalent quasistatic force is obtained by multiplication of static live load by impact load factor under certain conditions (Blodgett, 1966). This approach provides identical estimates for either lightweight or conventional material (as size of mass of target has no influence in response while using this static approach).
